IV administration set identification system

ABSTRACT

A system is used for identifying IV administration set components, wherein the IV set includes an IV solution container, a drip chamber having a hollow spike for introduction into the container, and an IV line for delivering the IV solution to a patient. The system includes a first identification element that is removably attached to the drip chamber for subsequent attachment to the container; a second identification element permanently affixed to the drip chamber; and a third identification element that is either permanently or removable attached to a Y-site or port in the IV line. In a preferred embodiment, the first identification element is a strip or patch that is adhesively attached to the drip chamber in a manner that will allow it to be removed therefrom for subsequent attachment to the container. The second identification element is a marker, preferably a strip or a patch, that is permanently affixed to the drip chamber. The third identification element is integral with or removably attached to a Y-site or port that is part of the IV line. The first, second, and third identification elements bear matching identification symbols.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Invention DisclosureDocuments Nos. 481,332, filed Oct. 16, 1999; and 498,899, filed Aug. 22,2001.

[0002] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 09/854,711, filed May 14, 2001.

FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a system for uniquelyidentifying each one of two or more intravenous (IV) lines that may besimultaneously employed to deliver drugs intravenously to one or morepatients respectively from two or more containers (such as IV bags orbottles).

[0005] There are medical situations, such as emergency rooms, traumacenters, and wards, in which two or more patients are simultaneouslyreceiving IV drugs. Also, a single hospital patient often requires theadministration of multiple IV drugs delivered separately, butsimultaneously, through two or more separate IV sets, at widelydifferent dosage rates. In such situations, it is necessary to assurethat each container of drug solution is properly matched to the correctIV line and from there to the correct patient. Confusion in matchingthese elements must be avoided to assure that each drug is administeredin the proper dosage to the proper patient, lest a patient be injuredthrough the administration of the wrong drug or an improper dose of thecorrect drug. Additionally, there have been numerous instances ofcontraindicated medications being introduced into an IV line at a“Y-site” or an in-line port, with possible endangerment of the patient.To date, efforts to avoid such confusion have largely been ad hoc. Forexample, medical personnel may attach numbered pieces of adhesive tapeto IV containers and to IV lines to match them up properly. Still, amore reliable mechanism has been sought to achieve these ends.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Broadly, the present invention is a system for identifying IVadministration set components, wherein the IV set includes an IVsolution container, a drip chamber having a hollow spike forintroduction into the container, and an IV line for delivering the IVsolution to a patient, wherein the system comprises a firstidentification element that is removably attached to the drip chamberfor subsequent attachment to the container; a second identificationelement permanently affixed to the drip chamber; and a thirdidentification element attached to a Y-site or port in the IV line.

[0007] In a specific preferred embodiment, the first identificationelement is a strip or patch that is adhesively attached to the dripchamber in a manner that will allow it to be removed therefrom forsubsequent attachment to the IV solution container. The secondidentification element is a marker, preferably a strip or a patch, thatis permanently affixed to the drip chamber. The third identificationelement is attached to a Y-site or port that is part of the IV line. Thethird identification element may be an integral part of the Y-site orport, or it may be removably attached to it. The first, second, andthird identification elements bear matching identification symbols. Inthe context of this invention, the term “symbol” is deemed to encompassone or more letters, numbers, geometric shapes, abstract shapes, colors,and any combination of these elements. The term “symbol” may alsoinclude a color alone.

[0008] Viewed another way, the system of the invention comprises amatched set of plural identification elements bearing matchingidentification symbols, wherein a first one of the set is attachable tothe IV container; a second one of the set is attached to the dripchamber; and a third one of the set is attached to the IV line remotefrom the first and second identification elements in the set. Inpractice, the system will advantageously include two or more suchmatched sets of identification elements, each set bearing a uniqueidentification symbol. In the context of this invention, however, theterm “system” is meant to encompass one or more such matched sets ofidentification elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an IV administration setidentification system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, showing the system in use on a typical IVadministration set;

[0010]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the first identification elementof the IV set identification system used on the IV administration set ofFIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the second identification elementof the IV set identification system shown in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the third identification elementof the IV set identification system shown in FIG. 1;

[0013]FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are elevational views of identificationelements showing alternative types of identification symbols;

[0014]FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the thirdidentification element that is removably attached to a Y-site or port;

[0015]FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the modified thirdidentification element and the Y-site or port to which it is removablyattached, taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9; and

[0016]FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the modified third identificationelement and the Y-site or port to which it is removably attached, takenalong line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Referring first to FIG. 1, a typical IV administration set 10 isshown, comprising a flexible plastic bag 12 serving as a container orreservoir for an IV drug solution (not shown). The set 10 also includesa drip chamber 14 having a hollow needle or spike 16 adapted to puncturethe bag 12. The drip chamber 14 has an outlet 18 that communicates witha first segment 20 of a flexible IV line. The first IV line segment 20has an outlet end that communicates with a first inlet branch 22 of aY-shaped port or “Y-site” 24. The Y-site 24 is modified in accordancewith the present invention, as will be described below. The Y-site 24may advantageously have a second inlet branch 26 sealed by a puncturableseptum 28. The septum 28 may be punctured by the needle of a syringe(not shown), or opened by a Luer connector or other device (not shown),for the administration of a supplemental drug into the IV line throughthe second inlet branch 26, as is well known in the art. The Y-site 24has an outlet branch 30 that communicates with a second segment 32 ofthe flexible IV line, which terminates in an IV needle (not shown) thatis adapted for insertion into a vein of a patient (not shown).Preferably, the outlet branch 30 is aligned axially with the secondinlet branch 26, so as to form therewith a continuous tubular body.

[0018] The identification system of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4. The system comprises a first identificationelement, in the form of a first adhesive patch or strip 38 (FIG. 2); asecond identification element, preferably in the form of a secondadhesive strip or patch 40 (FIG. 3); and third identification element,in the form of a flattened extension 42 that extends outwardly from thetubular body that comprises the second inlet branch 26 and the outletbranch 30 of the Y-site 24, and that is advantageously formed integrallytherewith (FIG. 4).

[0019] The first adhesive strip or patch 38 (FIG. 2) includes a pull tab48 at one end and an adhesive backing 50 on its reverse side, but not onthe back of the pull tab 48. The first adhesive strip or patch 38 isinitially adhesively attached to the drip chamber 14 (as shown in FIG. 2and in solid outline in FIG. 1). When the identification system of thepresent invention is used, however, the first adhesive strip or patch 38is removed from the drip chamber 14 by means of the pull tab 48, and itis then adhesively applied to the exterior of the IV container 12, asshown in broken outline in FIG. 1.

[0020] The second adhesive strip or patch 40 also has an adhesivebacking 44 (FIG. 3) that allows it to be fixed to the drip chamber 14(as shown in FIG. 1). The adhesive backing 44 is advantageously such asto fix the second strip or patch 40 permanently to the drip chamber 14as a permanent marker. Alternatively, the second identification elementmay simply be an identification symbol permanently marked on the dripchamber.

[0021] The first adhesive strip or patch 38, the second adhesive stripor patch 40, and the coupler extension 42 are each marked with amatching identification symbol 46. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, thesymbol 46 may be a numeral. Preferably, color may be used as part of theidentification symbols 46, whereby the symbols 46 have a matching coloras well as a matching number. Still more preferably, the Y-site 24 maybe made in the same color as the symbols 46.

[0022] In use, the identification system of the present invention willusually comprise two or more sets of identification elements, each setcomprising a first strip or patch 38, a second strip or patch 40, and aY-site 24 with an extension 42 bearing the same identification symbol46, unique to that set.

[0023]FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 show alternative forms of the identificationsystem, using different types of identification symbols. In FIG. 5 thesymbol 46′ is a letter, preferably in combination with a matching color.In FIG. 6 the symbol 46″ is a color alone, the matching color being thepredominant (if not sole) color of both the tab 42 and the strip 40. InFIG. 7 the symbol 46′″ is a colored geometric shape. Still other typesof symbols may be Roman numerals, abstract shapes and designs, andletters of non-Latin alphabets.

[0024]FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative form of the third identificationelement. In this form, the coupler or Y-site 52 is structurally anordinary device of this type, lacking the extension 42 described above.The Y-site 52 is marked with an identification symbol 54 by means of aband 56 attached around the inlet branch of the coupler 52, the band 56bearing the symbol 54. The band 56 is preferably applied as a segment ofshrink tubing, but it may also be in the form of an adhesive strip.

[0025] In use, the practitioner is provided with a drip chamber 14 towhich the first identification element 38 is removably attached and thesecond identification element 40 is permanently fixed, and an IV line 20having a Y-site or port 24 that includes the third identificationelement 42. When an IV solution container 12 is selected, the dripchamber 14 is connected to the IV solution container 12 (by means of thehollow spike 16). The first identification element 38 is then removedfrom the drip chamber 14 and attached to the IV solution container 12.In this manner, a high degree of certainty is provided that the IVsolution container is matched to the proper IV line.

[0026]FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 illustrate another modified form of the thirdidentification element. In this form, the third identification elementis in the form of an attachment 60 that is removably attachable to astandard Y-site 62 having a first inlet branch 63 a and a second inletbranch 63 b. The attachment 60 comprises a sleeve 64 with an axial slit66 and an integral lateral extension 68 that is marked with anidentification symbol 70. The integral extension 68 is preferablylocated diametrically opposite the axial slit 66, and it is orientedsubstantially parallel to the slit 66. The sleeve 64 is made of aresilient, flexible, plastic material, and it is shaped and dimensionedto fit over and to conform to the exterior surface of the Y-site 62. Thesleeve 64 can thus be slightly spread apart along the axial slit 66 toallow the second IV line 32 downstream from the Y-site 62 to be passedthrough the slit 66, and then the attachment 60 is pushed upwardly fromthe lower (downstream) end of the Y-site 62 until the Y-site 62 isreceived in the sleeve 64. The sleeve 64 is widened at its upper(upstream) end to accommodate the first inlet branch 63 a of the Y-site62. Likewise, the slit 66 is widened at its upper (upstream) end toaccommodate the second inlet branch 63 b of the Y-site 62. Theattachment 60 may be removed by just reversing the aforementionedinstallation process. Alternatively, the attachment 60 can be installedsnapping the sleeve 64 directly onto the Y-site 62 by spreading thesleeve 64 apart along the slit 66. Likewise, the sleeve 64 can be spreadapart along the slit 66 for removal from the port or Y-site 62.

[0027] The method of using the modified form of the invention is thesame as described above, except that the practitioner is provided withan IV line having a standard Y-site or port 62 and an appropriatesnap-on member 60 for attachment to the Y-site 62. When an IV solutioncontainer 12 is selected, the drip chamber 14 is connected to it, andthe first identification element is removed from the drip chamber andapplied to the solution container. The third identification element(attachment 60) is then attached to the Y-site 62 (as described above),the attachment 60 having an identification symbol 70 that matches theidentification symbol on the first and second identification element.

[0028] While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been describedherein, it will be appreciated that a number of variations andmodifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the pertinentarts. These variations and modifications are considered within thespirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for identifying IV administration set components, wherein the IV administration set includes an IV solution container, a drip chamber, and an IV line having a port, the system comprising: a first identification element that is removably attached to the drip chamber for subsequent attachment to the container; a second identification element fixed to the drip chamber; and a third identification element that is removably attachable to the port.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first identification element includes a patch that is adhesively attached to the drip chamber in a manner that allows it to be removed therefrom for subsequent attachment to the container.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second identification element includes a marker that is permanently fixed to the drip chamber.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the third identification element comprises: a tubular body of flexible resilient material, configured to fit over and to conform to the exterior surface of the port, the tubular body having an axial slit; and an integral extension extending from the tubular body at a location diametrically opposite the slit.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third identification elements bear matching identification symbols.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the identification symbols are selected from the group consisting of Arabic numerals, Roman numerals, letters, geometric shapes, abstract shapes, and colors.
 7. A method of identifying the components in an IV administration set that includes an IV solution container, a drip chamber, and an IV line having a port, the method comprising the steps of: (A) providing a drip chamber having a first identification element removably attached thereto and a second identification element permanently fixed thereto; (B) providing a third identification element that is attachable to the port; (C) removing the first identification element from the drip chamber; (D) attaching the first identification element to the IV solution container; and (E) attaching the third identification element to the port.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first, second, and third identification elements bear matching identification symbols.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the identification symbols are selected from the group consisting of Arabic numerals, Roman numerals, letters, geometric shapes, abstract shapes, and colors.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the drip chamber is connected to the IV solution container before the step of removing the first identification element from the drip chamber is performed.
 11. A system for identifying IV administration set components, wherein the IV administration set includes an IV solution container, a drip chamber, and an IV line having a port, the system comprising: a first identification element that is removably attached to the drip chamber with an adhesive that allows it to be subsequently attached to the container; a second identification element permanently fixed to the drip chamber; and a third identification element that is removably attachable to the port; wherein the first, second, and third identification elements are marked with matching identification symbols.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the identification symbols are selected from the group consisting of Arabic numerals, Roman numerals, letters, geometric shapes, abstract shapes, and colors.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the third identification element comprises: a tubular body of flexible resilient material, configured to fit over and to conform to the exterior surface of the port, the tubular body having an axial slit; and an integral extension extending from the tubular body at a location diametrically opposite the slit.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the extension is marked with an identification symbol. 